Universidade Católica de Moçambique

Instituto de Educação à Distância

Topic: Present Simple and the Present Continuous tense

Name: Vulande Jose

Student Code: 708233843

Course: Mathematic Teaching

Course
Subject: English Language
Year of Frequency: 1st
Class: B

Beira, September 2023

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 Universidade Católica de Moçambique
Instituto de Educação à Distância

Topic: Present Simple and the Present Continuous tense

Name: Vulande Jose

Student Code: 708233843

Trabalho de campo a ser Submetido na

Coordenação do Curso de Licenciatura em
Ensino de Matemática da UCM.

Tutor: Dr. Cremildo A. A. Cuvejengua

Beira, September 2023

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 Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1

Section I .......................................................................................................................................... 2

The present simple tense ............................................................................................................... 2

The forms of present simple tense ............................................................................................ 2

Affirmative ............................................................................................................................... 2

Negative ................................................................................................................................... 3

Interrogative ............................................................................................................................ 3

The third person singular rule ............................................................................................. 4

Section II ......................................................................................................................................... 5

The present continuous tense ....................................................................................................... 5

The forms of present continuous tense .................................................................................... 5

Affirmative form....................................................................................................................... 5

Negative Sentence .................................................................................................................... 6

Interrogative Sentence ............................................................................................................. 6

Spelling rules of ING form........................................................................................................ 7

Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 8

References....................................................................................................................................... 9

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Introduction

The Cambridge Dictionary defines “present tense” as “a verb tense used for an action or event
that is ongoing or developing”. The present tense is followed by the present participle and is
specifically used to indicate that a present action or event is ongoing, recurring, temporary, or
expresses the future. “A tense used to talk about an action or action that is in progress or planned
in the future”.

In the present field work I will be explaining about the present simple and present continuous
tense in affirmative, negative and interrogative forms giving some exemplifications from my
own. We know that nowadays, the correct use of English language grammar has been an
headache for some people around us, that’s why I want to explain about the present simple and
present continuous tense rules, formation and use.

The objective of this field work is to learn about the present simple and the present continuous
tense.

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Section I

The present simple tense

The present simple tense is a tense of verb which describes an action that is regular, true or
normal. We use the simple present tense when an action is happening right now, or when it
happens regularly (or unceasingly, which is why it’s sometimes called present indefinite).

According to English Language module year one (1) from UCM, page 22 explains as well that
we use the Present Simple to talk about things that we do every day, usually, etc.

For example:

1. I read English Language module every days!

2. Ganito loves listening to the local radio always.
3. I teach in Central Primary School.

The other is to talk about habitual actions or occurrences.

For example:

1. Ganito loves teaching about local materials during his natural sciences every day.
2. Mr. Ndapassoa travels to Beira by train during his holidays.
3. Hamsters run all night.

The forms of present simple tense

Affirmative
The present simple is used, in its affirmative form, to confirm situations that regularly, repeatedly
or always occur. The structure is: Subject + verb + … (-s for the third person singular)

For example:

1. Yes, I live in Marromeu. = we use the present simple to express a permanent situation.
2. The train to Marromeu district leaves at 6:30 = we use the present simple to refer to a
timetable.
3. Yes, the water boils at 100 degrees Celsius = we use the present simple to express a fact.

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There are some exceptions for the third person singular, depending on the ending of the verb.

For example:

 Suffixes -ch, -s, -sh, -x, -z: “Catch” ⇒ “Catches” = Add -es.

For example: the dog catches the ball when I throw it.

 Consonant + -y: “Try” ⇒ “Tries” = Change -y to -i and add -es.

For example: Nicha tries speaking English to improve her skills.

 Irregular verbs: do ⇒ does, go ⇒ goes, be ⇒ is, have ⇒ has…

For example: Suande has got three beautiful children.

Negative
The present simple is used, in its negative form, to deny situations that regularly, repeatedly or
always occur. The structure is: Subject + do/does + not + verb + … (does for the third person
singular)

For example:

1. No, I don’t live in a small house. = We use the present simple to express a permanent
situation.
2. No, the train to Marromeu doesn’t leave at 6. = We use the present simple to refer to a
timetable.
3. No, the water doesn’t boil at 70 degrees Celsius. = We use the present simple to express a
fact.

NOTE: The verb to be is irregular, so it doesn’t follow the general formation rule for the negative
form, and we just add not after the verb.

Interrogative
The present simple is used, in its interrogative form, to ask about situations that regularly,
repeatedly or always occur. The structure is: Do/does + subject + verb + …? (Does for third
person singular)

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For example:

1. Do you live in a small house? = We use the present simple to ask about a permanent
situation.
2. Does the train leave at 6?” = We use the present simple to ask about a timetable.
3. Does water boil at 100 degrees Celsius?” = We use the present simple to ask about facts.

NOTE: The verb to be is irregular, so it doesn’t follow the general formation rule for the
interrogative form. We put it at the beginning of the sentence to form questions.

The third person singular rule

According to the oxford dictionary and grammar, we add – es instead of – s if the base form ends
in -s, -z, -x, -sh, -ch, or the vowel o (but not -oo). This adds an extra syllable to the word in
spoken form.

Examples:

1. Miss + es = misses He misses her so much.

2. Veto + es = vetoes She vetoes every idea that I suggest.

If the base form ends in consonant + y, remove the -y and add –ies:

1. Rely --> relies Nicha relies on me.

2. Worry --> worries My workmates worries about me always.

Irregular verbs
Two very common irregular verbs that you already know do not follow the rules above (although
their third person singular present forms do actually end in –s): Be --> is; Have --> has

Modals
Finally, as mentioned above, the modal verbs, such as can, must, should, may and might, do not
take -s in the third person singular present because, as you probably know, modal verbs do not
take endings at all.

For example:

1. Duarte can speak three international languages.

2. My son must like football a lot.
4
Section II

The present continuous tense

The Present Continuous Tense is a verb tense used to describe actions that are happening now or
that are in progress. It is also used to describe actions that are happening repeatedly or habitually.
The Present Continuous Tense is formed by adding the – ing ending to the base form of the verb.

For example, the verb “to eat” becomes “eating” in the Present Continuous Tense. The subject of
the sentence determines the form of the verb in the Present Continuous Tense.

For singular subjects, the verb is am/is/are + verb – ing. For plural subjects, the verb is are + verb
– ing.

Formula

Subject + am/is/are + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence

For Example:

1. I am travelling to Marromeu district

2. My wife is going home while I'm studying English language module
3. I am reading the English module

The forms of present continuous tense

Affirmative form
The affirmative form of present continuous tense is used to talk about things that are happening
now. The form is: subject + verb to be + verb (+ing)

For example:

1. I am reading this article.

2. Ganito laughing alone.
3. Bero is going home.

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Negative Sentence

The negative form shows us a clause to deny in certain statement. In present continuous tense we
follow the rules below

Subject + helping verb ("is", "are" or "am") + not + (1st form of verb+ing) + object

Note: "not" is added after helping verb.

In negative sentence, other rules for using helping verbs ("is", "are" or "am") after subject are
same as mentioned above in positive sentences.

For examples:

1. He is not writing a letter.

2. We are not walking.
3. I am not running.

Interrogative Sentence
In the interrogative sentences, helping verb “is, am, are” is placed at the start of sentences.

Formation

Helping verb + subject+ verb (1st form of verb) + ing+ object?

Note that the sentence is started with helping verb "Is, Are or Am".

The use of helping verbs is same as mentioned above in affirmative sentences.

Examples

1. Is he writing a letter?
2. Are we walking?
3. Am I running?
4. Where are we walking?

Note also the words "what, where, when, how, etc." will be used before "is", "are" or "am" in
such kind of interrogative sentences.

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Interrogative Negative Sentence
Helping verb ("Is", "Are" or "Am") + subject + not + (1st form of verb+ing) + object

In Present Continuous Tense, interrogative negative sentences are just like interrogative
affirmative sentences with only use of "not" after subject.

For example:

1. Is he not writing a letter?

2. Are we not walking?
3. Am I not running?

Spelling rules of ING form

Below I would like to explain about the spelling rule if ING form. There are many rules we can
use for this case.

i. The general rule is to add – ing to the verb. For example, for verbs like wait, visit, speak,
add only – ing (i.e., waiting; visiting, speaking.)
ii. When a verb ends in a silent e, we drop the e and add – ing . For example, close becomes
closing.
iii. For verbs with one syllable and ending in a vowel and a consonant (e.g., run, stop, hit),
double the final consonant and add – ing. For example, hit becomes hitting.
iv. For verbs ending in w, y, or, x, we only add -ing. For example, fix becomes fixing.
v. For verbs ending in a vowel and a consonant with the stress on the final syllable (e.g.,
refer, forget), double the consonant and add -ing (e.g., referring, forgetting.)
vi. For verbs ending in -ie, drop the -ie and add -ying. For example, die becomes dying.
vii. For verbs ending in -ee, -ye, and -oe, do not remove the final -e when adding -ing. For
example, the verbs free, dye, and tiptoe, become freeing, dyeing, and tiptoeing.
viii. For verbs ending in a consonant + vowel + L, one of 2 rules apply depending on whether
you are using American or British English. In American English, travel becomes traveling
while in British English it becomes travelling.
ix. For verbs ending in -c , we add a -k + -ing. For example, mimic becomes mimicking
when we add –ing.

7
Conclusion

Finally, I have to say that present tense is a verb tense used for an action or event that is ongoing
or developing”. The present tense is followed by the present participle and is specifically used to
indicate that a present action or event is ongoing, recurring, temporary, or expresses the future.

The present simple tense is a tense of verb which describes an action that is regular, true or
normal. We use the simple present tense when an action is happening right now, or when it
happens regularly. In its affirmative form, is used to confirm situations that regularly, repeatedly
or always occur, in its negative form, is used to deny situations that regularly, repeatedly or
always occur, in its interrogative form, is used to ask about situations that regularly, repeatedly or
always occur.

While the Present Continuous Tense is a verb tense used to describe actions that are happening
now or that are in progress. It is also used to describe actions that are happening repeatedly or
habitually, the negative form shows us a clause to deny in certain statement. I explained also
about the spelling rules of ING form.

8
References

Azar, S. & Hagen, S. (2009). Understanding and using English Grammar. Pearson Longman.

HEATH, JEFFREY. 1984. Functional grammar of Nunggubuyu. Canberra: Australian Institute

of Aboriginal Studies

Klammer, Thomas, Muriel Schulz, and Angela Della Volpe. (2005). Analyzing English
Grammar. 5th ed. New York: Pearson Education. 81-84. Print.

Lunsford, Andrea. (2010). The Everyday Writer. 4th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's. Print.

Murphy R and Smalzer, W (2002) Basic Grammar in Use 2nd edition United Kingdom:
Cambridge University Press

Thornbury, S. (2004). Natural Grammar. Oxford.

TOPPING, DONALD M. 1973. Chamorro reference grammar. Honolulu: University of Hawaii

Press.

UCM - FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION; - (2006) Ano Propedeutico

English Course English Department.

UCM - FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION; - (2006) First Year English

Course English Department

WELMERS, WILLIAM E. 1973. African language structures. Berkeley and Los Angeles:
University of California Press.